“Only one person and you didn’t even manage to kill him?! I didn’t pay you a lot just to slack off!” His boss growled at them. He lowered his head, apologizing to their boss. If he could catch the perpetrators, his credibility and reputation wouldn’t have been gone, kaput and would have forced him to quit the job, or worse his boss would have killed him, but their boss was considerate despite the lack of his attitude.
He deeply breathed, gathered his thoughts, and expunged the anxiety.
“I am so sorry if I didn’t catch them, sir! Give us one more chance and then we will show you the results.” To the least, he already gained the trust of his boss. In the past few years, he accomplished many tasks without fail. He knew when he saw that mercenary use magic, he was bound to fail. Unlike what he faced before, he dared to deal with them by using guns, but now, their enemies can use magic, and this bothered him. Obviously, someone must have hired those mercenaries.
His attention returned to his boss. Even though his boss wore formal attire, his rotund figure still transcended and his belt couldn’t hold the plumpness.
“It was beyond my anticipation that those bastards could conjure magic.”
His boss snorted, “Enough with the excuses. It looks like you are just squabbling now. Where did the best of you go, eh?”
Again, he defended the honor he once held, “I could still fight just like before.” His jaw clenched, stopping the tremble overtaking his reasons.
“If that was true then, what were you doing right now?! Idling like a fool. To hell with all of you! If none of you could return those items, I would have hired another gang and made them kill you all!” He warned, his beard filled with sweat.
***
He wandered down the sidewalk, bitter. It was early in the morning, the sun was about to rise at any moments. Further below the stairway, he saw the wooden door and the fluorescent tubes twisted into forming letters, Dove Alley.
He pretended to be surprised and showed an energetic attitude to the kids who tried to scare him by wearing a Halloween mask as he entered. The last time he saw them, they were thin, unrecognizable, but now they were healthy and energetic. Together with his friend, who ran a bar, they could help the kids grow up in an environment with supportive adults.
“Oh, I see you kids must’ve been playing a lot,” he said and offered a weary smile.
“Hmm, I thought you were going to visit this Saturday. Why early?” This time his friend got out of the kitchen then walked to the server station.
He kneeled down to the level of the children and greeted them with a tired smile.
“Hey, why don’t you guys play over there? Uncle Henry and I need to talk. Okay?”
“Adult stuff again?” one of the kids replied with a grumpy face.
“Uhm, yes. Don’t worry. The next time I come here, I will bring a gift for all of you,” he promised.
“Really?” they said in unison.
“I promise,” he said.
“Okay then. Bye,” they said before running off to play tag somewhere else.
He sighed and could not hold the tiredness anymore. “Listen, the reason I came here is that I need my weapons, Henry.”
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He stopped and gave a serious look at him.
“Is it serious this time?”
“The prey can use magic and high combat skills; I might need to be serious this time,” he replied.
He could not be careless as he already faced the enemy and underestimated their capabilities. He must be in top-notch condition. Henry signalled him to follow and they went to the basement. There, Henry opened a secret wall that revealed weapons and armour.
Out of concern, Henry asked him, “Port, what kind of enemy are you facing now?”
Port didn’t know who they were, but he must be prepared next time like this. There is little else he could do now that they’re in hiding. He must perform diligently or he wouldn’t be able to feed the kids he took care of. Worse, they would become the target of his boss’s wrath.
“I don’t know who they are, but I’m sure that they’re mercenaries hired to steal items that my boss is obsessed with,” he said as he grabbed a giant case and started to choose weapons.
“When are you gonna stop this job? I know it’s not my concern,” Henry asked.
Port showed a wry smile and said, “You know I can’t leave this way of living. I’ve grown with it, and I’ll die with it.”
Henry let out a sigh as if he already anticipated his answer, but still, he wished that it would be different this time.
“Besides, I have a debt. I cannot just waltz away. He might target you guys. Just do not worry about me, take care of those kids.”
“You can still go back,” Henry said.
Ignoring Henry’s comment, Port locked the door behind him and pulled a sack full of money from underneath his coat. Henry’s eyes widened in shock.
“I know that your business’s income is low, but with this, you can compensate for it,” Port said.
“Where did you get this?” Henry asked.
“Doesn’t matter. Just use it.” Port said.
Henry hesitated for a moment before reluctantly accepting the money. “Thanks for the concern, but actually… where—alright, I’m not gonna ask anymore, just be careful, okay?”
Port nodded, “No problem. I won’t be here for a while.” He began to look for a bag in the cabinet. “I’m going somewhere.”
Henry raised a brow. “To where?”
Port walked through the counter where his weapons were locked and started to pack. The pain in his ribs made a soft crunch when he crouched. He suppressed the pain so that Henry won’t nag about it.
“It would be better if you don’t know.”
“You’re going to get yourself in trouble.”
“That’s an understatement. I’m always in trouble.” A loud hoarse of voices began to ring from outside even though muffled by the thick walls, the commotion was considerably loud. “I think you should go now, things are getting busy out there.”
Henry left the room and Port retrieved a box from his coat’s pocket. He walked towards the desk, pressed his palm against the brick wall, and felt for the slightly different texture of the bricks. He pressed it, and a faint moan sounded as the wall opened and groaned. Port grabbed a flashlight and walked down the stepping stone leading into the unravelled darkness. The door closed behind him.
A few moments later, Port was sitting in the corner. The weapons are in his bag. He let out a long sigh before leaving the place.